The Vision for a Modern, 

Efficient Facility

The County wanted a modern and inviting facility that would be productive and efficient for both employees and the public alike and have room for future growth.

With security and safety in mind, we began to explore spacial relationships between departments and resources. To address security concerns, we placed public services on the lower levels and more private staff related functions such as administrative spaces, building operations, and commissioner’s offices towards the upper floors. The departments housed on the upper floors would only be accessible to the public by appointment.

The following transformation goals reflect the County’s desire to provide a modernized workspace while honoring the building’s history.

  • Goal 1: Create a Modern New Identity for Main Entry
  • Goal 2: Honor the Building’s Banking Heritage
  • Goal 3: Provide Daylight and Added Transparency for All
  • Goal 4: Smarter Space Use and Shared Resources

GOAL 1: CREATE A MODERN NEW IDENTITY FOR MAIN ENTRY

Preserving Quality Materials While Modernizing the Facade
The existing exterior facade featured quality materials with granite cladding and reflective glass window walls. The County wanted to update the monolithic facade to appear modern and inviting while preserving these features. Due to the building being built to the property lines, major changes to the exterior were restricted to the Saginaw Street facade.

Enhancing Visibility Through a Reimagined Entrance

Since the first two levels were set back from the street, we were able to enhance the building’s visibility and flow by moving the main entrance south. The new entrance is now showcased by a large revolving door which invites over 600 patrons to enter the grand two story open lobby space each day.

A two-story parking deck has hidden the original Genesee County administration building for 47 years, with no visual presence in the community. Now the renovated ten-story office tower with its sculptural entry and multiple exterior trellises has create an iconic identity for the Genesee County Administration.

Architectural Accents That Celebrate Identity and Community

The main entry is highlighted by aluminum trellis canopies supported by a large sculptural granite pylon with the County’s logo serving as the main focal point. At the north end, five smaller trellises were added to the openings between the large columns that support the overhanging upper levels, carrying the theme along the entire street facade, giving new life to the building and its recessed plaza area. The trellis lights are programmable and can change with the touch of a button to easily add vibrancy and excitement or raise awareness and support for various causes. The plaza area is now elegantly separated from the street by glass railings, creating an inviting space for private gatherings and community events like the Crim Festival of Races and Back to the Bricks.

A Bold New Identity for Genesee County

Finally, towering letters spelling “Genesee County” were installed to stretch the full vertical height of the building’s north and south corners. The building now shines like a beacon, establishing a bold, iconic presence in the heart of the community.

GOAL 2: HONOR THE BUILDING’S BANKING HERITAGE

Honoring the Past in a Modern Space

The existing structure was originally a modern addition to the historic Citizens Bank building, which played a pivotal role in the development of Flint’s auto industry and the broader U.S. economy. While most of the newly renovated space consists of standard office areas and workstations, two key areas retained distinctive elements from its banking past.

Vault Door Reimagined

In the basement, a large bank vault with two doors remained intact. One of these doors, featuring a polished stainless steel finish and circular “button” accents, was selected by the design team to be repurposed as a focal point in the new public lobby space. However, due to its substantial weight, relocating the door would require additional structural support. Ultimately, it was placed on the first floor above the original vault ceiling, which had an 18-inch thick reinforced concrete slab, reducing the amount of new structural steel required.

Now prominently displayed near the entrance to a large conference and training room, the vault door serves as a visual anchor in the main public lobby. Its design elements—stainless steel finishes and button accents—served as the inspiration for the design theme used throughout the new first floor lobby. Support columns for the new lobby stair were clad in stainless steel panels with matching accents, and similar motifs were used in the glass railings and the bulkhead above the entry to the Clerk/Register of Deeds.

Preserving the Bank Boardroom

The second honored element, located on the upper floor where the bank directors once had their offices, is the bank’s original boardroom. Once the setting for key contract negotiations that shaped the Flint community, this room now serves as the boardroom for the County Commissioners and their administrative staff.

Featuring wood-paneled walls, ceiling trim, and a custom wood table, the room was largely kept intact. The large custom conference table was left in its original location and carefully refinished. Updates included new carpet flooring, enhanced acoustic ceiling panels, and modernized lighting and technology to support current needs while honoring its legacy. The newly restored boardroom now stands as a lasting fixture, continuing to serve the people of Flint and Genesee County as a symbol of civic dedication and enduring legacy.

GOAL 3: PROVIDE DAYLIGHT AND ADDED TRANSPARENCY FOR ALL

Bringing Natural Light to the Interior

The 10-story office tower features a central lobby core with elevators and stairways, surrounded by open floor space—forming a “rectangular donut” with exterior-facing windows. This layout presented a challenge for the staff located in interior areas to enjoy views of the outside and receive the health benefits from natural daylighting.

To address this, aluminum framed glass walls and doors were incorporated throughout the building’s interior walls. Meeting rooms, private offices, and department lobbies now feature transparent partitions, allowing light and visibility to flow freely. In some areas, offices are placed toward the interior with corridors along the perimeter; in others, open workspaces line the perimeter with glass-walled offices inside—creating visual connectivity and access to natural light from multiple vantage points.

GOAL 4: SMARTER SPACE USE AND SHARED RESOURCES

Optimizing Space Through Standardization and Shared Resources

To reduce the overall floor area required, the County adopted a strategy of consolidating spaces and standardizing workstations. Previously, office sizes varied widely depending on available space, often exceeding what was necessary for the tasks performed. In the new County Administration building, office sizes are now based on job space requirements, significantly reducing the number of private offices and increasing collaborative workstations.

Storage needs were also re-evaluated. Rather than filling each floor with large storage areas, departments now have small rooms for immediate needs, while bulk storage is centralized in the basement using efficient rolling shelving systems. The County’s decision to digitize many records further reduced the need for physical storage.

Meeting rooms were another area of consolidation. Instead of assigning private meeting rooms to each department, shared meeting spaces are located along common corridors and are accessible to all staff. A scheduling system ensures availability and efficient use of these rooms.

Conclusion

After seven years of studying the past facility, identifying the current and present needs, a future has been created for Genesee County that not only meets, but exceeds every goal established.

LOCATION

Flint, Michigan

OWNER

Genesee County Board of Commissioners

SQ. FOOTAGE

160,000 SF

PROJECT COST

$30 Million

2025 AIA-Flint Honor Awards
Best Adaptive Reuse Project Award